Following his victory at this year’s Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal now has recorded 18 Grand Slam singles titles to his name and is agonizingly short of Roger Federer’s tally of 20 titles. In their fascinating rivalry so far, with being just two titles apart from the Swiss maestro, Nadal was never ever so close of Federer’s tally of Grand Slam titles.
And then we have Novak Djokovic who won three Grand Slams in a row for the third time in his career when he won Wimbledon and US Open in 2018 and the Australian Open earlier this year to record a staggering 15 Grand Slam titles against his name.
With their race towards highest singles titles won in men’s tennis in the history of the game getting tantalizingly closer after each passing Slam, there’s a lot at stake for ‘big 3’ at this year’s Wimbledon than just winning another Major.
Let’s take a look at what is at stake for each of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic at the ongoing Wimbledon.
Roger Federer
To be honest, to witness the 20-time Grand Slam champ, who will turn 38 this August, compete at the highest level of tennis at this age is nothing short of spectacular. But, that is the effect his rivals Nadal and Djokovic have had on him, pushing each other to their limits, bringing the best out of each other in an era where all the three somehow have managed to co-exist, displaying moments of sheer individual dominance.
For Federer, there is no question that Wimbledon is the same for him as the French Open is for the Spaniard.
The Swiss maestro last won his Major down under back in 2018 and thereafter, barring his appearance in the semi-finals at this year’s Roland Garros, hasn’t played at semi-finals or beyond of any other majors.
He succumbed to a sensational quarter-final exit at last year’s Wimbledon and suffered twin 4th Round defeats at US Open 2018 and Australian Open earlier this year and would look forward to returning to winning ways at his most favourite Slam of his illustrious career.
Moreover, Federer is not getting any younger and perhaps who is in the twilight of his career, has his best chance of winning another Grand Slam at Wimbledon than anywhere else.
Also, with Nadal almost tailgating the Swiss maestro now, Federer would feel an urge to win at least one more Major if not two by the end of this year and Wimbledon is his fortress and would dearly fancy winning his unprecedented 9th crown at All England Club this year.
Just by the sheer logic of comparison, his biggest rival, the Spaniard has won all the three French Open titles since his return from threatening injury in early 2017 and Federer, who missed out on winning Wimbledon last year would like to reciprocate by winning his favourite Slam this year.
The presence of Nadal with 18 Majors right behind him and the ability of Djokovic to win Grand Slams in succession when is on song would motivate and drive the 37-year at this year’s Wimbledon towards a probable 9th title at the lawns of All England Club.
Novak Djokovic
The World No.1 and the youngest of the ‘big 3’ and perhaps the least injury prone among his biggest rivals has an innate ability to raise his game when it matters the most, especially at the Grand Slams.
One of the strong attributes that very much defines Djokovic is his mental toughness and when he is at his peak, there are very few players in the game who appear as invincible and as unbeatable as the Serbian does.
The momentum that he carries not only from one match to another but also from one tournament to another is simply staggering and the story of his illustrious career in itself.
Djokovic has won 15 Majors so far and a win at the ongoing Wimbledon would mean that he would trail Nadal and Federer just by two and four Grand Slams respectively.
Moreover, if the World No.1 wins at All England Club this year, it would be his 5th Wimbledon title, putting him alongside a list of elite players comprising of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Bjorn Borg to win five or more Wimbledon crowns in the history of men’s tennis in the open era.
Also, following a remarkable 7th title victory in Melbourne earlier this year, Djokovic has gone off the boil a little bit and would be more than eager to defend his title at Wimbledon.
As far as Djokovic is concerned, when he wins one title, he goes on to win many more in succession as we all know. On three occasions out of the four times when Djokovic has won the Wimbledon titles in the past, the Serb has gone on to win succeeding US Open and Australian Open titles as well and the World No.1 would dearly like to replicate that enormous feat yet again this year.
Can victory at Wimbledon 2019 set the tone for Djokovic towards a probable ascendance to highest Majors singles won in the history of men’s tennis?
It would be intriguing and captivating to follow Djokovic’s journey at Wimbledon this year and beyond.
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal and Wimbledon always have been an indifferent relationship, a story full of incredible highs and terrifying lows. From being crowned as champion in 2008 and 2010 to succumbing to horrifying first and second round exits in the years to follow, Nadal’s journey at Wimbledon has been like a roller-coaster ride.
While it is true that Nadal was fabulous, displaying his vintage self at last year’s Wimbledon en route his journey to the last four before he narrowly lost an epic, titanic clash against Djokovic in the semi-finals, it was Spaniard’s first instance of reaching quarter-finals or beyond at the All England Club since 2011.
However, following a monumental victory at Roland Garros at the end of clay season this year and from what we witnessed last year at Wimbledon, this year is probably Nadal’s best chance to lay hands on his third Wimbledon title in spite of being handed a horror draw.
He is already 33 and with an injury prone body that he had to deal with almost throughout his career, the Spaniard would but obviously find it difficult to win titles with each passing year. Especially at Wimbledon, on grass, where courts are faster and bounce is low, the surface is taxing on Nadal’s knees, making it even more difficult for the Spaniard to win another title at the All England Club.
Following his Career Slam victory when he won his first ever US Open, way back in 2010, the Spaniard has just added two more US Open titles other than his French Open crowns to his bag of Grand Slam titles and would dearly love to add one more Wimbledon title to his illustrious career before he calls it quits.
As a fascinating stat, Nadal last won a title on grass at Stuttgart back in 2015 and if the Spaniard manages to record his 3rd Wimbledon title this year, it would be 3rd instance in Nadal’s glittery career where he would have had won the French Open and Wimbledon back to back in the same year. As a record, he is also the last man to achieve this feat when won Roland Garros and Wimbledon, back in 2010.
And last but not the last, if Nadal and Federer manage to prevail simultaneously, being in the same half of the draw, are lined up to meet each other in the semi-finals. These two arch-rivals have not met even once at Wimbledon since their epic, jaw-dropping and unforgettable final in the 2008 edition, a match that will probably go down in the history books as the best match ever and the Spaniard would fancy beating the Swiss maestro yet again on a court that is perhaps latter’s second home.
The ‘big trio’ of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have eased into their respective third rounds with relative ease and it would be absorbing to witness how the drama unfolds surrounding the ‘big three’ at the ongoing Championships, Wimbledon.
